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How many people actually ride brakeless

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View Poll Results: Brakeless
Yes
28
25.45%
No
82
74.55%
Voters: 110. You may not vote on this poll

How many people actually ride brakeless

Old 02-24-16, 10:10 PM
  #26  
hairnet
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Originally Posted by gmm213
live and ride in L.A.
sigh
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Old 02-24-16, 10:57 PM
  #27  
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I'm more surprised at the number of total votes.

I know there's a couple fellas from the 42, C&V, and track that come around every now and then but do that many people actually browse SS/FG?
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Old 02-25-16, 08:30 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Leukybear
I'm more surprised at the number of total votes.

I know there's a couple fellas from the 42, C&V, and track that come around every now and then but do that many people actually browse SS/FG?

So many lurkers. We're practically famous.
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Old 02-25-16, 08:59 AM
  #29  
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I didn't brake too much when I ride during downhill. And I really enjoy this wild style of cycling. However, it is so dangerous if you are a noob on cyclingXD
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Old 02-25-16, 09:00 AM
  #30  
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I raced on the Velodrome "back when" where brakes were prohibited and fixed gears required.

Winter base miles were/are ridden on a FG bike equipped with at least a front brake for the road environment: Left turning motor vehicles, traffic controls, steep potholed descents and random stuff that the controlled environment of the track lacked. Putting in the miles and effort just training for competition is dangerous enough w/o handicapping a rider's options for control.

As always, suit yourself.

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Old 02-25-16, 09:25 AM
  #31  
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I used to. Then I got old and my knees started hurting.
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Old 02-25-16, 12:31 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by pwebb
my legs can do this though, so legally they are my brake.
Originally Posted by thedapperest
Fixed drivetrain technically counts as a brake there
Yeah that's true. But honestly, if in a situation, I doubt that telling a cop these reasons would prevent them from giving you a ticket for having no brakes.
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Old 02-25-16, 01:06 PM
  #33  
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There have been a few people here in SD who have gotten brakeless tickets, fought them and won using the "my legs are my brakes" argument.

Pain in the ass to have to go to court and all that, though.

Last edited by Scrodzilla; 02-25-16 at 01:10 PM.
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Old 02-25-16, 01:48 PM
  #34  
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Man, those SD cops must REALLY have nothing to do if they are pulling bikers over for not having at least one brake caliper
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Old 02-25-16, 01:54 PM
  #35  
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You can get pulled over for lots of reasons -- riding on a sidewalk, not yielding to pedestrians, running red lights, etc., depending on your local laws. What you get ticketed for could be a different matter. I got pulled over for rolling through a stop sign once.
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Old 02-25-16, 02:14 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Unkle Rico
Man, those SD cops must REALLY have nothing to do if they are pulling bikers over for not having at least one brake caliper
It's really only one motorcycle cop downtown named Thompson. Always a big smile on his face while he's writing tickets. He's a total dickhead.

Downtown sucks anyway. He's just one more reason to never go there.
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Old 02-25-16, 02:22 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
It's really only one motorcycle cop downtown named Thompson. Always a big smile on his face while he's writing tickets. He's a total dickhead.

Downtown sucks anyway. He's just one more reason to never go there.
There are two cops in Seattle that reportedly write about 80% of all the bicycle tickets. But, if I ever do get a speeding ticket on my bike I am framing it!
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Old 02-25-16, 02:55 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by seau grateau
You can get pulled over for lots of reasons -- riding on a sidewalk, not yielding to pedestrians, running red lights, etc., depending on your local laws. What you get ticketed for could be a different matter. I got pulled over for rolling through a stop sign once.
Cops in Tampa one year issued over 70 tickets for riding with no hands.

They even ticketed one 56 year old black man and confiscated his bike because he didn't have the receipt to prove it was his.
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Old 02-25-16, 03:28 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by AndjaVXC
They even ticketed one 56 year old black man and confiscated his bike because he didn't have the receipt to prove it was his.
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Old 02-25-16, 08:53 PM
  #40  
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I don't understand how a cyclist would get a ticket. Just ride somewhere the cop can't go or just ride away from it. I had one of those things yell at me over the loudspeaker once for running a red light (not that his fat ass doesn't run red lights in non emergency situations) but it didn't do anything more and I just rode away quickly. I have been chased by cops before but not on a bike.

I guess some people like stopping for cops. In most of my interactions with them the conversation is so boring and one sided so I just tend to avoid them.

There is a speed trap near me but it is only on one side and I have yet to trip it because the road isn't yet long enough at that point. One day though, one day!
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Old 02-25-16, 10:10 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by veganbikes
There is a speed trap near me but it is only on one side and I have yet to trip it because the road isn't yet long enough at that point. One day though, one day!
It is great to have goals in life!!!
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Old 02-25-16, 10:46 PM
  #42  
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this morning, on the bike path i sometimes use i noticed they posted up some blinky police lights and a camera pointed where there's a crosswalk, which is directly in front of a senior center. there are already speed bumps and zebra stripes there, makes me wonder if there was an incident that prompted such actions to be taken.

i think it's less of a brake or no brake issue and more of a responsibility issue. i see cyclists some with brakes or not, full kit or not, there are no boundaries, but some people are just reckless. when you share public roads and mups you gotta be aware of **** going on around you.
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Old 02-25-16, 10:47 PM
  #43  
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I notice a lot of people that talk about why they dont ride brakeless specifically mention hills. Would any of you that have hills ride brekless if it were flat?

The only time Ive ever seen anyone get in trouble on a bike in my area was a few years back, in Norfolk you have to have your bike registered and pay $15 annual fee. The cops were driving around the poverty neighborhoods confiscating bikes left and right. Since the city went crazy over that (almost all the poor neighborhoods in my area are black) I have yet to see a cop do anything to cyclists. Though I did get a "stern talking to" about flicking my butt at a redlight by some 100yr old crotchety unmarked once
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Old 02-25-16, 11:14 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by gmm213
I notice a lot of people that talk about why they dont ride brakeless specifically mention hills. Would any of you that have hills ride brekless if it were flat?
Yeah, I have ridden brakeless occasionally for a couple weeks for fun. Ultimately I would put my brakes back on so I could comfortably go fast and deal with the all hills around.
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Old 02-25-16, 11:23 PM
  #45  
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The reason I have a front brake on my fixed gear bikes that I ride on the street has nothing to do with hills and everything to do with emergency braking for sudden hazards such as cars pulling out in front of me. Under normal conditions I don't use it. I have ridden brakeless when my bike didn't have a fork that was drilled for a brake, and it was not a pleasant experience.
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Old 02-26-16, 10:58 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by Kindaslow
It is great to have goals in life!!!
You gotta have goals!
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Old 02-26-16, 11:48 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
"my legs are my brakes"
Next RG sticker?
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Old 02-27-16, 07:47 PM
  #48  
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I ride brakeless in a big city with lots of traffic and a very hostile attitude toward cyclist. I'm very good at stopping without skidding and participate in very fast group rides through the city. It can get hairy in groups with roadies who can't seem to keep the same pace. They are always accelerating and braking constantly.
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Old 03-01-16, 09:16 AM
  #49  
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About 20yrs ago, I blew a brake hose on my car one night in Vancouver. I drove it brakeless to Whistler, where I was living at the time. Just the tranny and e-brake to slow down. I feel much the same as I did that night when I am riding my bike brakeless. I only feel somewhat comfortable when riding in an area essentially alone with little to no other traffic. I seldom ride that particular bike (my Nagasawa) as a result.
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Old 03-01-16, 11:44 AM
  #50  
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Yolo swag 420 blaze it the **** train has no brakes!

Premium Rush can't stop won't stop bang bang big boi!
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